PARIS: Casper Ruud dissected Novak Djokovic's French Open triumph expertly in the press room.
The Norwegian, who was handed a three-hour, 13-minute lesson on how and when to raise your game, came away wiser, though not necessarily smarter. Blame it on the Serb.
"If you hit a strong forehand, close to the line, against any other person, most of the time, it 's going to be a winner, but Novak will read it and he's going to get there," Ruud said. "So, you know that you have to hit it this much closer to the line or on the line. " The pressures of playing the world No. 1.
"He puts pressure on you to take more risks. Against him you want to try to play as aggressively as possible, because if you're too much o n the defence, he'll just control the game. He'll put in some drop shots, and play from corner to corner," Ruud said.
In the six tie-breaks Djokovic contested this fortnight, the 36-year-old didn't commit a single unforced error. That's 55 points! "Either he plays ridiculous defence or he plays beautiful winners. He just doesn't commit any mistakes," Ruud said of the Serb in the shootout. That's precisely where the final turned on Sunday.
1/10:French Open: Novak Djokovic claims record 23rd Grand Slam
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2/10:Novak Djokovic
<p>Novak Djokovic created history on Sunday when he captured a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title with a third French Open triumph, reinforcing his case to be crowned the greatest player of all time.</p>Getty Images
3/10:23rd Grand Slam
<p>The 36-year-old Serb brushed off an early wobble to defeat Casper Ruud of Norway 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, 7-5 and snap the tie of 22 Slams he shared with career-long rival Rafael Nadal. </p>Getty Images
4/10:3rd French Open title
<p>Victory for the third time in Paris, after 2016 and 2021, adds to Djokovic's 10 Australian Open titles, seven at Wimbledon and three at the US Open.</p>Getty Images
5/10:Eyeing Rod Laver
<p>Djokovic is the first man to win all four majors at least three times and is once again halfway to the first calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969.</p>Getty Images
6/10:Oldest French Open champion
<p>There is little sign of Djokovic slowing down and he is now the oldest French Open champion but 11 of his Slam trophies have now been won after he turned 30.</p>Getty Images
7/10:7th French Open final
<p>Djokovic was playing in his seventh French Open final and boasted a 4-0 career record over Ruud, not having lost a single set. </p>Getty Images
8/10:More composed
<p>However, Ruud was the more composed of the two at the start, sprinting out of the blocks for a 2-0 lead when Djokovic shanked an overhead. </p>Getty Images
9/10:Ruud
<p>Ruud stretched to 3-0 and 4-1 before Djokovic retrieved the break in the seventh game when his opponent buried an easy smash into the net with an open court begging. </p>Getty Images
10/10:The tumble
<p>Djokovic missed a break point in the ninth game, tumbling to the red clay as he chased down a Ruud drive.</p>Getty Images"He locks in and makes you have to play either ridiculously well to win the points or he steps up with a winner himself," said the 24-year-old, who is yet to take a set off Djokovic.
"He knows how and when to step up. He's played so many matches, he knows just where he has to raise his level."
